The United States and Japan will step up their defence cooperation to deal with the threat from nuclear-armed North Korea as tensions in East Asia remain high, officials from the two allies said on Thursday.

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"At this stage, police believe the remains are those of a woman who was reported missing on May 29," they said in a statement.

The announcement confirmed the worst fears of Ms Waldron's father Pat and sister Anna-Lee Annett, who flew to Queensland from New Zealand earlier this week to be closer to where she spent her final days.

"We need to be here and cry on the beach," said Mr Waldron, who believed his daughter would have known about the risks of her late-night adventure.

The family has said it did not want the crocodile harmed because it was in its natural habitat.

Ms Annett, who admitted Ms Waldron did "something silly", has spoken to Ms Mitchell and said it was the most difficult conversation of her life.

If any good can come of the tragedy, it may be delivered in the form of a new awareness of the crocodile population in Queensland waterways.

Environment Minister Dr Steven Miles, who admitted the government did not know with scientific certainty whether croc numbers were rising or falling in some parts of the state, committed $5.8 million for better population surveys.